Seismic reinforcing structure to distribution panel mounted on a raised access floor without transfer or power interruption

ABSTRACT

A seismic reinforcing structure is disclosed, which is for a power supplying distribution panel or panelboard mounted on a raised access floor system in order to reinforce a seismic capacity. More particularly, the seismic reinforcing structure can be mounted even to an existing operating distribution panel or panelboard having a seismic capacity without requiring transfer or power interruption of the distribution panel or panelboard in operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a seismic reinforcing structure mounted to a distribution panel or a panelboard for power supply to reinforce a seismic capacity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a seismic reinforcing structure capable of being mounted to an existing operating distribution panel or panelboard having a seismic capacity without requiring transfer or power interruption of the distribution panel or panelboard in operation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, when installing power supplying facilities such as a panelboard, or other facilities provided to a supervisory panel, a distribution panel, a communication panel, a protection panel, a control room, a communication control line, a computing device and so on, those facilities are to be installed on a raised access floor system by adding another removable floor panel to an existing floor of a building. The raised access floor system is formed by attaching pedestals on a concrete slab floor at regular intervals using epoxy adhesive, and a removable floor panel is mounted on the slab floor through the medium of the support pedestals.

The above various facilities including the panelboard and the distribution panel are installed on the removable floor panel. Here, in a case where the facilities such as the panelboard are heavy, the panelboard is fixed in two holes among four holes formed on the removable floor panel using an anchor nail. Next, a cushion pad is placed on an upper part of a head. Upper part positioning supporters are connected to the respective support pedestals through every side and fixed by bolts, accordingly constructing a frame. Then, a removable floor panel is connected through every side, corresponding to recesses of the cushion pad, thereby completing the raised floor system. For the material of the removable floor panel, a steel floor panel (610 mm×610 mm, thickness 32 mm) has been conventionally used. However, in recent days, an integrated polyurethane and particle floor panel (600 mm×600 mm, thickness 40 mm) that has overcome defects of the steel floor panel is generally used.

In the such a conventional raised floor system, the pedestal has about 20˜40 cm height, and a bearing capacity of the removable floor panel is basically 1.5 ton/m². When being reinforced by the support pedestals, the bearing capacity becomes 3.5 ton/m².

Since weight of the distribution panel is generally within a range of 100˜800 kg, the raised access floor system is capable of well supporting the distribution panel.

However, because each corner of the basic structure of the above rose access floor system has a rigid-frame structure, rather than a complete fixing end, the system is very delicate to lateral force and vibration. As a result, in case of an earthquake, overturning failure of the distribution panel is inevitable.

Meanwhile, when installing various facilities or devices inside a building or a structure that applies the seismic system, before the raised floor system is mounted, a stringer is prepared in a corresponding size to a removable floor panel of the facilities or devices, such as the distribution panel, placed at a predetermined position and fixed to the floor slab by anchoring. Next, the raised access floor system is constructed by applying the removable floor panel over the rest space, and a control cable is mounted and connected. Finally by connecting the removable floor panel, assembling of the raised access floor system is completed. Thus, the constructing processes of the conventional raised access floor system are very complicated. Furthermore, it costs a lot to manufacture the stringer.

Moreover, according to the above conventional raised access floor system for installation of the distribution panel or panelboard, a seismic reinforcing structure can be applied only to newly constructed facilities or buildings. That is, it is almost impossible to apply the seismic reinforcing structure to existing facilities since power interruption or transfer of the existing facilities is necessitated during operation of the facilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a seismic reinforcing structure to a distribution panel mounted on a raised access floor without transfer or power interruption, capable of reinforcing a seismic capacity to prevent a overturning failure or damage of facilities installed on a raised access floor system by vibration in case that an earthquake occurs or an external impact is applied, and capable of being mounted even to existing facilities in operation without necessitating transfer or interruption of power supply and operation of the existing facilities, while guaranteeing a stable seismic capacity.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a seismic reinforcing structure mounted to a distribution panel without transfer or power interruption of the distribution panel to secure a stable seismic capacity, by being structured in a manner that an removable floor panel is mounted at an interval from a flooring slab through the medium of fixing members of support pedestals and the distribution panel is seated on a mounting bracket fixed to the removable floor panel, wherein the removable floor panel and the mounting bracket are fastened to each other through an L-shape bracket and horizontal and vertical bolts, a square pipe is fixed to the vertical bolt penetrating the L-shape bracket and the removable floor panel at an interval from the removable floor panel, and a turn buckle mounted to an anchor bracket of the flooring slab is connected to a shackle of a fixing bolt fastened to the L-shape steel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional structural view of a seismic reinforcing structure to a distribution panel mounted on a raised access floor without requiring transfer or power interruption of the distribution panel, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side-sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional structural view of a seismic reinforcing structure according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional structural view of a seismic reinforcing structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1 showing the structure of a seismic reinforcing structure according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the configuration of a turn buckle applying the seismic reinforcing structure shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional structural view of a seismic reinforcing structure to a distribution panel mounted on a raised access floor without requiring transfer or power interruption of the distribution panel, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are partially enlarged views of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side-sectional view of FIG. 1.

In the following description, facilities include a distribution panel, a panelboard, a control board, a supervisory panel, a communication/control line and a computer in a briefing room or a control room, and the likes. Although the distribution panel out of the above will be taken as a typical example and described hereinafter, the present invention is applicable to all of those facilities.

According to the present invention, in a state where a distribution panel 100 has already been installed on an removable floor panel 4 of a raised access floor system, the seismic reinforcing structure can be applied to the distribution panel 100 in operation without requiring transfer or power interruption of the distribution panel 100 so as to reinforce a seismic capacity of the distribution panel 100, such that the distribution panel 100 is prevented from being turned over or damaged by an earthquake or vibration.

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, the removable floor panel 4 is mounted at an interval from a flooring slab 1 through the medium of a fixing member 3 of a plurality of vertical support pedestals 2. Next, the distribution panel 100 is seated in a mounting bracket 5 fixed to the removable floor panel 4, thereby completing the seismic reinforcing structure according to the embodiment of the present invention which is capable of guaranteeing the stable seismic capacity. In the seismic reinforcing structure, the removable floor panel 4 and the mounting bracket 5 are fastened to each other through an L-shape bracket 6 and horizontal and vertical bolts 7 a and 7 b. A square pipe 8 is connected to the vertical bolt 7 b that penetrates the L-shape bracket 6 and the removable floor panel 4, at an interval from the removable floor panel 4. The square pipe 8 is fastened to the support pedestal 2 through the medium of an L-shape steel 9 a using a U-type bolt 10 and a fixing bolt 11. A shackle 12 of the fixing bolt 11 fastened to the L-shape steel 9 is connected with a turn buckle 14 which is mounted to an anchor bracket 13 of the flooring slab 1.

Here, since a spacing spring 15 is interposed between the removable floor panel 4 and the square pipe 8 and connected with the vertical bolt 7 b, impacts exerted to connection members can be relieved in case that load paths are changed.

In addition, the L-shape steels 9 connected to the square pipe 8 are arranged alternately with respect to a horizontal direction to have a fall prevention structure, in preparation for falling of the distribution panel 100 in case that the vertical supporting pedestals 2 are turned over due to an earthquake or vibration.

Hereinafter, the seismic reinforcing structure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail.

When the mounting bracket 5 mounted with the distribution panel 100 is connected to the removable floor panel 4 through the horizontal bolt 7 a and the vertical bolt 7 b, the L-shape bracket 6 is perforated in advance to form a hole. The vertical bolt 7 b is inserted in the hole of the L-shape bracket 6 such that holes of the removable floor panel 4 and of the square pipe 8 are aligned. Next, a nut 16 is fastened from a lower part of the square pipe 8.

In the interval between the removable floor panel 4 and the square pipe 8, the spacing spring 15, made of metal, is inserted such that the vertical bolt 7 b, the removable floor panel 4 and the square pipe 8 are all integrally connected. Accordingly, the impacts caused by the change of load paths can be relieved.

The L-shape steel 9 connected to the vertical supporting pedestals 2 is fixed through the U-type bolt 10. Also, the L-shape steel 9 fixed to the pedestal 2 is fastened to an end of the square pipe 8 forming the fall prevention structure, by the fixing bolt 11. An eye connection part of the turn buckle 14 is insertedly connected with a hole of the shackle 12 mounted to a lower end of the fixing bolt 11.

Another eye connection part disposed on the other side of the turn buckle 14 is connected to the anchor bracket 13 fixed to the flooring slab 1 through an anchor bolt 17 to tightly tension the turn buckle 14.

A seismic reinforcing structure according to another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. During a perforation work for forming holes for fastening bolts to the removable floor panel 4 and the mounting bracket 5, on which the distribution panel 100 in operation is seated, vibration generated from the perforation work may cause malfunction of relay of the distribution panel 100. In this case, welding L-shape bracket 6 to mounting bracket 5 or attaching a hinge connection board 19 may be applied to prevent the malfunction. More specifically, according to this embodiment, the mounting bracket 5 and the hinge connection board 19 are adhered to each other using a strong industrial adhesive 20, and a rotary link 21 of the hinge connection board 19 is connected to the vertical bolt 7 b penetrating the removable panel 21 and the square pipe 8. Here, another spacing spring 15 a is interposed between a head of the vertical bolt 7 b and the removable floor panel 4.

By using the industrial adhesive having an excellent adhesion for the adhesive 20, the hinge connection board 19 and the mounting bracket 5 can be adhered by force as strong as bolt-connection to endure forces exerted in lateral and vertical directions. The rotary link 21 of the hinge connection board 19 is pivotable by a predetermined angle upon earthquake or vibration, thereby transmitting the load.

Since the other structures of this embodiment are the same as in the previous embodiment explained with FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, detailed description of them will be omitted. FIG. 6 shows a seismic reinforcing structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a movable distribution panel 100 a moved by a wheel 101. In the seismic reinforcing structure according to this embodiment, a stopper supporter 102 of the movable distribution panel 100 a and the removable floor panel 4 are interconnected through a bending bracket 22 and the vertical bolt 7 b. The other structures and features are the same as explained in the previous embodiments.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the configuration of the turn buckle applying the embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, another turn buckle 14 a is additionally mounted at a right angle to the turn buckle 14 shown in FIG. 2.

A seismic reinforcing structure to a distribution panel mounted on a raised access floor without transfer or power interruption, according to embodiments of the present invention, is capable of being mounted to an existing operating distribution panel by adjusting a distance using a turn buckle. Therefore, the seismic reinforcing structure can reinforce a seismic capacity without having to stop the operation of the distribution panel, that is, without transfer or interruption of power supply of the distribution panel.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A seismic reinforcing structure to a distribution panel mounted on a raised access floor without transfer or power interruption of the distribution panel to secure a stable seismic capacity, by being structured in a manner that an removable floor panel is mounted at an interval from a flooring slab through the medium of fixing members of vertical supporting pedestals and the distribution panel is seated on a mounting bracket fixed to the removable floor panel, Wherein the removable floor panel and the mounting bracket are fastened to each other through an L-shape bracket and horizontal and vertical bolts, a square pipe is fixed to the vertical bolt penetrating the L-shape bracket and the removable floor panel, at an interval from the removable floor panel, and a turn buckle mounted to an anchor bracket of the flooring slab is connected to a shackle of a fixing bolt fastened to the L-shape steel.
 2. The seismic reinforcing structure according to claim 1, wherein a spacing spring is interposed between the removable floor panel and the square pipe and fastened to the vertical bolt so that impacts exerted to connecting members can be relieved when load paths are changed.
 3. The seismic reinforcing structure according to claim 1, wherein the square pipe and the L-shape steel are arranged alternately with respect to a horizontal direction, thereby achieving a fall prevention structure.
 4. The seismic reinforcing structure according to claim 1, wherein the vertical bolt penetrating the removable floor panel and the square pipe is connected with a rotary link of a hinge connection board that is attached to the mounting bracket by welding or adhesive.
 5. The seismic reinforcing structure according to claim 4, wherein a spacing spring is interposed between a head of the vertical bolt and the removable floor panel.
 6. The seismic reinforcing structure according to claim 1, wherein the vertical bolt of the removable floor panel is mounted with a bending bracket connected to a stopper supporter of a movable distribution panel. 